U.S. fuel economy standards get boost

Changes could cost automakers $1.5 billion

March 28, 2009|By Matt Andrejczak, McClatchy/Tribune news

SAN FRANCISCO — The Transportation Department on Friday raised fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks to an industry-wide average of 27.3 miles per gallon for 2011 models, up 2 miles per gallon from 2010 models.

The tighter rule will save about 887 million gallons of fuel and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 8.3 million metric tons, the department said.

Cars will have to meet a standard of 30.2 m.p.g. and light trucks, 24.1 m.p.g. It is estimated it will cost auto manufacturers $1.46 billion to incorporate the additional fuel-saving technologies, according to the new regulation.

A multi-year fuel economy plan for car and truck models after 2011 is still in progress. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 called for the average fuel economy of cars and light trucks sold in the U.S. to equal or exceed 35 miles per gallon by model year 2020.

But the Obama administration decided to pass the 2011 rule before finalizing car-model years 2012 to 2015 because of the dire financial condition of U.S. automakers. The Bush administration had proposed a slightly higher fuel economy standard for 2011 in April 2008.

Future standards will need to be squared with a pending ruling on a request from California to reverse a Bush-era decision that prevents the state from setting its own limits on greenhouse-gas emissions from automobiles.

Thirteen other states and the District of Columbia want to adopt California's standards, which would cut greenhouse-gas emissions 30 percent in new cars and trucks by 2016.

Obama asked the EPA to reconsider its March 2008 ruling denying California the right to control heat-trapping gases from vehicle exhaust. A decision on the request is expected in weeks.

A 2007 Supreme Court decision said the EPA had the authority to control greenhouse-gas emissions from automobiles using the Clean Air Act.

Auto industry officials want a single national standard and contend that multiple regulations will burden the industry, which is struggling in the economic downturn.